Process fob the electbolytic deposition of lead



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DELL F. HABBAUGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROCESS FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSITION OF LEAD.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DELL F. HARBAUGH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for the Electrolytic Deposition of Lead, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved process for the electrolytic deposition of lead, and has for its object the provision of an improved process of this character which is simple and eflicient in operation, and capable of continuous operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The preferred method of procedure for carrying on the process consists in preparing an electrolyte, consisting of a combination of lead and sugar, 'or what I term a semihydro-oxid-carbon of lead, and subjecting the same to the action of an electric current.

In preparing said compound, previously dampened oxid or oxids oflead are intensely heated in the presence of a saccharine material such as sugar, which causes a chemical combination between said substances producing said compound. This compound is then dissolved in a mixture of water and sodium hydroxid to produce the electrolyte for use in conjunction with the electric current. The electrolyte thus prepared is then subjected to the action of an electric current, as is usual in electrolytic processes. For the anode or positive electrode, platinum'or copper is preferably employed, the same being insoluble in the solution. For the cathode or negative electrode the material or object desired to be coated or plated with lead is employed in the usual manner.

In this way it will'be found that iron, steel, zinc, copper, nickel, aluminum, gold, silver and tin, as well as certain allies of these metals, and also certain of these metals as well as certain allies of the same alloyed with not to exceed eighty per cent. of one or more of the following metals: Tantalum, vanadium, manganese, bismuth, arsenic, chromium, tungsten, platinum group of metals, cerium, molybdenum, cobalt, cadmium, antimony, selenium, tellurium, uranium and circonium may be readily coated or plated.

The solution may be readily maintained at a constant degree of saturation or potentiality by suspending a sack therein contain- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J un 10, 1919.

Application filed July 5, 1918. Serial No. 243,256.

ing a suitable quantity of said compound, thus tending to maintain the electrical resistance and operation of the process constant, uniform and eflicient.

It will also be found that by the use of this process the coating of the anode or positive electrode with peroxid of lead, as is usual in known processes where a lead anode is employed, is entirely avoided, thus rendering the continuous operation of the process possible. 1

Further advantages of the process are that the same may be operated as a commercial process, with either high or low electromotive forces; and that the process is equally operable and efficient with either a hot or cold electrolyte.

For the sodium hydroxid, other caustic hydroxid, potassium hydroxid may be employed with good results, but I think sodium hydroxid will usually be found preferable.

For the purposes of equivalency, any equivalent will be found not in its chemical structure but in its functional efi'iciency.

While I have set forth the preferred steps and means for carrying on the process, these are capable of variation and modification without departing from the true spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise steps and means set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of. the appended claims.

Having described myinvention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A process for the electrolytic deposition of lead which consists in forming a solution of oxid thereof with intensely heated saccharine material; and subjecting the same to the action of an electric current, substantially as described.

2. A process for the electrolytic deposition of. lead which consists in forming and maintaining a substantially constant solution in sodium hydroxid and water of a compound of saccharine material with. a previously dampened oxid of lead; and subjecting the same tothe action of an electric current, substantially as described.

' 3. A process for the electrolytic deposition of lead which consists in forming a solution in caustic hydroxid of a compound of sugar with a previously dampenedoxid of lead; and sub ecting the same to the ac- Q 130mm tion of an electric current, substantially as electric current, using metals other than lead 10 described. as electrodessubstantially as described.

4. A process for the electrolytic deposi- In testimony whereof I have signed my tion of lead which consists in first preparname to this specification in the presence ing the electrolyte consisting of a solution of two subscribing Wit/1165895 of intensely heated sugar combined with DELL F. t BAUGH. previously. dampened oxid of lead dissolved Witnesses: 4 in Water and sodium hydroxid; and then Josrrtm R. H. Perms,

subjecting said solution to the action of an Hnrnn F. Limits. 

